[in a 90s southern California surfer accent, looking like Pauly Shore in his prime] "TUBULAR BRO!" That grain is pretty wavy. What is that, alder or gray birch? Never mind, I see birch at the top now hiding in plain sight.
I feel your pain. I split some Norway maple last year that looks absolutely 3D, with an in-your-face curly grain pattern. Huge tree too, with the best grain coming from the trunk flare, which extended at least 5-6 feet up the trunk. I would have stopped splitting and milled it, but I had let the rounds sit for so long it was pretty checked up. I did have the consolation of having a ton of top-notch firewood. All things considered, I'll take Norway maple over red oak, which is the staple of my wood piles.
I still remember some Cherry from around ten years ago. Ants had eaten the bottom of the trunk, but the midsection was solid and curly/wavy when I split it. It actually halted me for a moment while I processed what I was seeing. Then I had to deglove and actually feel the wood. Have not yet run across prettier wood on my splitter.
The best part about the sawmill is when you slice into the log you never know what you are going to find. I have run across many interesting grains inside. ( and sometimes metal ) Now my thought is can it be a saw-log or is it firewood. Prior to this everything was firewood , not so much anymore.
Ive split some with cool grain and kinda regret it. I have an oak split like that saved to give to a wood turner. Actually keep forgetting to give it to jo191145
